NLI Signing Class: Detroit Mercy Titans Sign 11 For Next Year

DETROIT -- The Detroit Titans men's lacrosse team stockpiled talent for the future as head coach Matt Holtz announced the signings of 11 high school standouts, all of whom will enter the University next fall as freshmen.

Paul Bitetti – D – 6-1/205 - Plainview, NY/ Bethpage
Lettered in lacrosse and football in high school…Earned All-County in lacrosse as a junior after compiling 128 ground balls and 36 caused turnovers to go with eight assists…Was selected All-Academic as a junior in lacrosse and senior in football… Named the Fran McCall Lacrosse Award winner in 2010, given to the sophomore varsity player with highest athletic achievements…As a sophomore, he picked up 117 GB's and had 32 caused TO's with six helpers…He played club with the Long Island Storm and the Long Island Vipers, helping the storm to the Lava Lax Tournament title in 2010…Selected to the All Star Team at Blue Chip Lacrosse Camp in the 2010 and 2011 seasons...Selected to the All Star Team at Camp 205 this past summer…A member of National Honor Society as a junior and senior.

Coach Holtz on Bitetti: “He is an extremely aggressive and athletic defenseman who has all the tools to be a starter for us right away.”

Ryan Callaghan – A – 5-10/165 - Burlington, ON/Corpus Christi Catholic
A scorer from across the border, Callaghan shined in junior lacrosse helping the Halton Junior Tier 2 to a championship in 2010…He made a name for himself on the club scene playing with Edge Lacrosse for four years…He also attended the Top 205 and Nike Blue Chip Rising Senior camp in 2011…He has been a winner on all levels winning championships in the Ontario B Field Lacrosse in peewee, bantam and midget.

Coach Holtz on Callaghan: “Ryan is a skilled goal scorer who will help us on the offensive end. He has the ability to play attack or midfield and to provide a scoring punch from either spot.”

Connor Flynn – G – 5-10/200 - Rockford, MI/Rockford
A netminder, Flynn has won three letters in lacrosse and is set for a fourth this year with the Rockford Rams…He was tabbed second team All-State as a sophomore and junior…Last season, he tied his own school record with 23 saves in a game and ended the year with a 68.8 save percentage…He also owns school records with a 71.6 save percentage and a 4.09 goals against average as a freshman…He owns a career 65.9 save percentage and another school record with 446 saves…Off the field, he is a member of the National Honor Society.

Coach Holtz on Flynn: “Connor is a great ball stopper who has good vision in the clearing game. He will compete for the starting spot very quickly in his career.”

Brad Harris – A – 6/3/180 - Saline, MI/Saline
A three-year letterwinner and brother of current Titan senior midfielder Scott Harris…He earned All-State honors as a junior after leading the team in scoring with 48 goals and 43 assists…A team captain, he was also selected first team Southeastern Conference (SEC) and was the Hornets' Team MVP…For his career, the attackman has totaled 104 goals and 79 assists…Played club with Team Total helping the squad to a title at the Notre Dame lacrosse and Summer Sizzle Tournaments in 2010…He was also a part of the Connect Program in high school which helps special needs students.

Coach Holtz on Harris: “Brad Harris has great size and is extremely skilled. We are hoping he can break into the rotation early in his career.”

Andy Hebden - M – 6-1/185 - Farmington Hills, MI/Brother Rice
Another signee who knows all about the program through his older brother in current Titan junior defenseman Jamie Hebden…A three-year letterwinner at local powerhouse Brother Rice…Has helped the Warriors to back-to-back state championships and a pair of Catholic League titles…Brother Rice was also Midwest champions in 2010 and runner-up in 2011 and claimed the North American Invitational Blue Division last season…In his first year of high school, helped the junior varsity squad to a Catholic League championship as he was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year…Played club with 1763…A member of the Student Senate and the Kairos Student Director.

Coach Holtz on Hebden: “Andy is a long and athletic midfielder who can provide an offensive punch. We are confident that he will develop into an excellent offensive player.”

Chris Perry – M – 6-0/185 - Shelby Township, MI/Eisenhower
A multi letterwinner in lacrosse and football, Perry was selected third team All-State as junior…He totaled 31 goals in his first two years at Eisenhower and was named the Rookie of the Year after helping the team to a co-championship in the MacRed Division in 2010…He played club with Grosse Point Select and 313 Lax for two years…He was nominated and attended the Rising Junior Blue Chip 225 Lacrosse Camp's Elite Division in 2010…He clocked a 104-mph shot to win the Ohio State Team Camp Fastest Shot Competition…He is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Congressional Youth Leadership Council.

Coach Holtz on Perry: “Chris is probably the best overall athlete in our class. He has blazing speed, and a shot that has been clocked over at 100-mph.”

Jack Slomsky – A – 5-9/185 - Westerville, OH/ Columbus St Francis DeSales
Slomsky has been a member of the varsity lacrosse team since his sophomore year…Had a fantastic junior season finishing the year with All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State honors after tallying 43 goals and a school record 37 assists…Scored 34 goals and had 24 assists as a sophomore and was named an adidas All-American…Has 85 goals and 65 assists going into his senior year…Played club with Titanium the last two years…A member of the Model United Nations, Business Club and Student Government.

Coach Holtz on Slomsky: “Jack is a versatile and skilled player who can play attack or midfield. He has the skills to be a feeder or a goal scorer for us.”

Dylan Swanson – M – 6-3/190 - Ann Arbor, MI/ Pioneer
Earned letters in basketball, football and lacrosse…A two-time All-State honoree earning third team in 2010 and first team in 2011…Also tabbed All-Region twice and MVP Midfielder as a sophomore and junior…Last season, he recorded a team-high 72 points on 38 goals and 34 assists and has 60 goals and 59 helpers in his career…Just this past summer, he was the NSCLA Tournament Offensive MVP with True Lacrosse leading the squad to a team title…He was also on the Ohio State Team Camp All Star Team.

Coach Holtz on Swanson: “He is an excellent athlete who is growing into his lacrosse body. He has a ton of upside and potential.”

Ryan Tarzia – M – 5-7/175 - Hicksville, NY/Hicksville
Has earned three letters in lacrosse and has made a name for himself as a faceoff specialist…Helped the Comets to a Nassau County Class A Championship in 2009…Invited to Top 205 as a sophomore and junior…Played club with For The Love Of The Game…A member of the National Honor Society.

Coach Holtz on Tarzia: “He is an excellent faceoff man who competed and did very well against a number of very good players over the summer. We are going to look for him to step into the first face off man roll very early in his career at Detroit.”

Kurt Urbin – M – 6-0/180 - Rochester Hills, MI/Stoney Creek
A three-year letterwinner and another local product to add to the Titan roster, Urbin earned All-State Honorable Mention as a sophomore and junior…He was also named All-OAA Red Division and All-Area after tallying 20 goals and 19 assists last season…He played club 1763, GP Select 1 year and 313 LAX…He has been a member of the Student Council all four years.

Coach Holtz on Urbin: “He is a player that we have seen improve greatly over the past few years as we have watched his development. He has a great work ethic and drive.”

Shannen Wesley – M – 5-10/180 - Toledo, OH/St. Francis de Sales
An explosive offensive player, Wesley made a name for himself last season as he looks to earn his fourth varsity letter in 2012…He was tabbed second team All-State, All-Region and first team All-League as a junior…Tallied 102 ground balls, 44 goals and 55 assists as a junior, while leading his team to a Toledo Area Lacrosse Association (TALA) championship…He has scooped up 172 GB's in his career…He played club with GP Select helping the squad to a 17-5 record and a Great Lakes Invitational U19 championship…He was also an All-Academic selection for two years in football…Off the field, he was involved in the Interact Club, the school's chapter of Rotary and Campus Ministry.

Coach Holtz on Wesley: “Shannen is a superior athlete who will be a first-line midfielder for us at some time in his career, it's just a matter of when, not if.”